The Riley Hill Faith Partners for Healthy Communities is a collaborative formed between Riley Hill Baptist Church and Riley Hill Family Life Center to promote physical activity and healthy eating in their community. Some of their initiatives include installing a walking trail and playground at the church, adopting a healthy food policy, and hosting community events. They have reached about 400 people and formed 9 partnerships. Due to their success, they created a larger multi-church collaborative called Riley Hill Faith Partners for Healthy Communities to have an even greater impact.
Food & Faith: A Values-Based Approach for Community Food Security
Angela Smith, Baltimore Food & Faith Project
Pastor Heber Brown III, Pleasant Hope Baptist Church
Jenny Holmes, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Cassi Johnson, Community Food Advocates
Five faith-based organizations and faith communities representing different traditions will share their work to support local farmers, develop community gardens, and increase healthy food accessibility. Attendees will be asked to share best practices from their own faith-based efforts and participate in structured small group discussions, each led by a panelist.
Ready Kids: Building a Strong Network for Kentucky's System of #Oral Health CareKYOralHealthCoalition
Good #oral health is critical to good overall heath and while tooth decay and other dental diseases can have long lasting impacts on long-term health and employability, millions of Americans go without needed dental care because they can’t find a dentist, can’t afford care, lack dental insurance, or are unaware of the importance of dental care.
Michael A. Young, President and CEO, PinnacleHealth System - 2013 Community L...Modern Healthcare
About Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Award
The healthcare industry is full of executives who define themselves by leading efforts to change lives and contribute to their communities. Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Awards will recognize these leaders while bringing attention to the worthy causes they support.
Learn more about the Community Leadership Award on Modern Healthcare's website:
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/section/community-leadership/
Our Vision for Patients
Educated, engaged and empowered patients actively managing their health and becoming advocates for healthy living within their family and the community, inspiring
others to value that good health is true wealth.
Katie Kraft, Advocacy Coordinator for the Healthy Families Health Planet (HFHP) initiative of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society explains how denominations can become advocates for change in global health.
Sarah Holden and Steve Gowland - Health, wellbeing and the environmentInnovation Agency
Presentation by Sarah Holden, Head of Public Health Services, St Helens Council and Steve Gowland, Public Health Lead, Sefton Council: Enhancing environments, enabling communities at the Health, wellbeing and the environment event on Monday 28 January 2019 at The Isla Gladstone Conservatory, Liverpool
Food & Faith: A Values-Based Approach for Community Food Security
Angela Smith, Baltimore Food & Faith Project
Pastor Heber Brown III, Pleasant Hope Baptist Church
Jenny Holmes, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Cassi Johnson, Community Food Advocates
Five faith-based organizations and faith communities representing different traditions will share their work to support local farmers, develop community gardens, and increase healthy food accessibility. Attendees will be asked to share best practices from their own faith-based efforts and participate in structured small group discussions, each led by a panelist.
Ready Kids: Building a Strong Network for Kentucky's System of #Oral Health CareKYOralHealthCoalition
Good #oral health is critical to good overall heath and while tooth decay and other dental diseases can have long lasting impacts on long-term health and employability, millions of Americans go without needed dental care because they can’t find a dentist, can’t afford care, lack dental insurance, or are unaware of the importance of dental care.
Michael A. Young, President and CEO, PinnacleHealth System - 2013 Community L...Modern Healthcare
About Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Award
The healthcare industry is full of executives who define themselves by leading efforts to change lives and contribute to their communities. Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Awards will recognize these leaders while bringing attention to the worthy causes they support.
Learn more about the Community Leadership Award on Modern Healthcare's website:
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/section/community-leadership/
Our Vision for Patients
Educated, engaged and empowered patients actively managing their health and becoming advocates for healthy living within their family and the community, inspiring
others to value that good health is true wealth.
Katie Kraft, Advocacy Coordinator for the Healthy Families Health Planet (HFHP) initiative of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society explains how denominations can become advocates for change in global health.
Sarah Holden and Steve Gowland - Health, wellbeing and the environmentInnovation Agency
Presentation by Sarah Holden, Head of Public Health Services, St Helens Council and Steve Gowland, Public Health Lead, Sefton Council: Enhancing environments, enabling communities at the Health, wellbeing and the environment event on Monday 28 January 2019 at The Isla Gladstone Conservatory, Liverpool
1. Information Technology Solutions
STEPS TO SUCCESS
BRING FAITH LEADERS
TO THE TABLE
Engaging faith leaders in all
stages of the health initia-
tive is vital to its success.
Although they may not
have time to serve on a
committee, keeping them
informed and asking for
feedback about the plans
and progress is valuable.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Not all faith communities
have the resources, facili-
ties or staff capacity to sup-
port a comprehensive com-
munity health initiative. A
collaboration with multiple
faith communities and other
partners can help maximize
the resources.
COALITION CAPACITY
Technical training and as-
sistance can greatly in-
crease the capacity of faith
and community leaders
participating in the coalition.
Training and education
improve participation in the
coalition, enhance cultural
competency and expand
leadership for healthier
communities.
RILEY HILL FAMILY LIFE CENTER
Fitness, Food, and Faith
A grant-funded initiative to increase active living and healthy eating for underserved youth in Wake County.
Administered by the Community and Clinical Connections for Prevention and Health Branch in the NC Division
of Public Health and the N.C. Public Health Foundation. Funds provided by the John Rex Endowment.
Ask anyone from Riley Hill Faith Partners for
Healthy Communities (RHFP) how wholeness is
realized, and they will tell you that strong faith, a
kind heart and a healthy body are key. The RHFP
collaborative was formed on the heels of a health
initiative led by partners, Riley Hill Family Life
Center (RHFLC) and Riley Hill Baptist Church
(RHBC). Riley Hill is located outside the incorpo-
rated area of Wendell and does not have access
to safe public areas to be active. The health initia-
tive began with the installation of a walking trail,
playground and basketball court located at the
church, accessible to all members of the commu-
nity.
The church offered walking programs and promoted community walk and play days
throughout the year. In addition to providing supports for more physical activity, they
focused on existing practices within the church that would help promote health.
Church members now enjoy healthy foods options during potlucks, meetings, and
events, thanks to adopting a healthy foods policy. As members wait for the service to
start on Sunday mornings, they can read health-related messages that are inserted
into their bulletin.
While support and participation from the church was strong, the health initiative coor-
dinators were dissatisfied with the level of community participation. Health initiative
leaders believed that working together with other churches to reach the larger com-
munity would not only expand the reach of their health initiative, but would also lever-
age new resources and strengthen partnerships. As a result of this vision, a multi-
church collaborative, the RHFP, was formed. RHFP participants meet monthly and
strive to bridge the issues of faith and health together for the citizens of Wendell and
surrounding areas of Zebulon and Knightdale. The collaborative is excited about the
accomplishments of RHBC and RHFLC, and are looking for ways they can adopt
similar health initiatives in their respective churches as well as provide events and
resources to improve the health and quality of life of the greater community.
2. Adoption of healthy food policy
Permits and promotes community use
of their outdoor play spaces
10 events offered to promote the
health initiative such as: Community
Walk and Play Day, Nutritional
Demonstration and Physical Fitness
Event, Dance N2 Shape and Gos-
pelcize Line Dancing
Estimated reach through various pro-
motional events: approximately 400
9 partnerships established
The Riley Hill Faith Partners for
Healthy Communities collaborative
established
“..there have not been
any places for me to
take my kids to play
outdoors that was
convenient for the
whole family. Now I
can walk and the
boys can play
[basket]ball and the
girls enjoy the swings.
There was nothing
around here for a
long time after the
community park
closed. Its nice to
have a place to go as
a family to be out-
doors.
Now I see the con-
nection to health. My
kids see me changing
my behavior and now
want to do healthier
things too.”
- Mother in the
Wednesday Walking
group.
Fitness, food and faith will continue to be a pri-
mary focus at the Riley Hill Family Life Center
and Riley Hill Baptist Church. The church con-
tinues to look for ways to reinforce their new
policies. They promote the playground and
walking trail by encouraging youth and adult
Sunday school teachers to use them while they
are discussing the lessons, and if they finish
early. Community events continue to be offered
to encourage others in the surrounding commu-
nity to join in. The collaborative promotes their
mission through the Riley Hill Faith Partners for
Healthy Communities Facebook page. They are
expanding to include representatives from parks
and recreation, business owners, and local pub-
lic health. They continue to explore funding op-
portunities intended to help expand their impact.
ACTIVITIES &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
LASTING IMPACT
RECOGNITION
The RHFP Healthy Communities Col-
laborative has already become a rec-
ognized resource in the community.
They have worked with the Town of
Wendell to promote their new walking
facility. They are also partners with
Duke in development of a cancer cur-
riculum and with the local parks and
recreation department.
5901 Riley Hill Road
Wendell, NC 27591
Phone 919.365.7899
Fax 919.365.3632